Kim Croasdale
Kim Croasdale
Oxford, UK
My ‘eureka’ moment arose during my Zoology & Psychology BSc, when I took a course on Conservation Biology. The tutor delighted in listing the species of animals that have gone extinct due to human impacts. He seemed to be saying, “Humans are terrible, we do so much wrong and even when we try to help we just make matters worse.” I was aware of the challenges facing us before that, but that course really hammered home the importance of sustainability work to me. My stubbornness kicked in and I decided to show the tutor that humans can do the right thing and genuinely help. It was during that time, and during my dissertation, that I noticed that there seem to be huge gaps between research that needs doing, the resources (e.g. time, funding) needed to do it and organisations that can practically use the results.
The achievement I’m proudest of is setting up a scheme that bridges that gap. I’ve been incredibly lucky that NUS have been able to include setting up Dissertations for Good as a part of my job and it’s really exciting to see it in action. The job has also allowed me to explore other important areas and I’m now specialising in sustainable healthcare and developing our work to suit various different audiences, as well as running Dissertations for Good.
A sustainable future seems almost like an unachievable utopia and I struggle to imagine what it would look like. The exciting thing for me is seeing all of the incredible work that is happening at the moment in all different sectors and workplaces. Our biggest obstacle is helping people to realise why it matters to them personally and the big and small things that they can do. So, although we may be working towards some unimaginable sustainable future, for now I’m enjoying the ride, learning about the amazing work and the inspirational people transforming the ‘sustainability’ movement into a way of life.